Pepper hybrid sv3255pb

ABSTRACT

The invention provides seed and plants of pepper hybrid SV3255PB and the parent lines thereof. The invention thus relates to the plants, seeds and tissue cultures of pepper hybrid SV3255PB and the parent lines thereof, and to methods for producing a pepper plant produced by crossing such plants with themselves or with another pepper plant, such as a plant of another genotype. The invention further relates to seeds and plants produced by such crossing. The invention further relates to parts of such plants, including the fruit and gametes of such plants.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the priority of U.S. Provisional Appl. Ser. No.61/891,378, filed Oct. 15, 2013, the entire disclosure of which isincorporated herein by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to the field of plant breeding and, morespecifically, to the development of pepper hybrid SV3255PB and theinbred pepper lines SBR-99-1335 and SBY-99-1336.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The goal of vegetable breeding is to combine various desirable traits ina single variety/hybrid. Such desirable traits may include any traitdeemed beneficial by a grower and/or consumer, including greater yield,resistance to insects or disease, tolerance to environmental stress, andnutritional value.

Breeding techniques take advantage of a plant's method of pollination.There are two general methods of pollination: a plant self-pollinates ifpollen from one flower is transferred to the same or another flower ofthe same plant or plant variety. A plant cross-pollinates if pollencomes to it from a flower of a different plant variety.

Plants that have been self-pollinated and selected for type over manygenerations become homozygous at almost all gene loci and produce auniform population of true breeding progeny, a homozygous plant. A crossbetween two such homozygous plants of different genotypes produces auniform population of hybrid plants that are heterozygous for many geneloci. Conversely, a cross of two plants each heterozygous at a number ofloci produces a population of hybrid plants that differ genetically andare not uniform. The resulting non-uniformity makes performanceunpredictable.

The development of uniform varieties requires the development ofhomozygous inbred plants, the crossing of these inbred plants, and theevaluation of the crosses. Pedigree breeding and recurrent selection areexamples of breeding methods that have been used to develop inbredplants from breeding populations. Those breeding methods combine thegenetic backgrounds from two or more plants or various other broad-basedsources into breeding pools from which new lines and hybrids derivedtherefrom are developed by selfing and selection of desired phenotypes.The new lines and hybrids are evaluated to determine which of those havecommercial potential.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In one aspect, the present invention provides a pepper plant of thehybrid designated SV3255PB, the pepper line SBR-99-1335 or pepper lineSBY-99-1336. Also provided are pepper plants having all thephysiological and morphological characteristics of such a plant. Partsof these pepper plants are also provided, for example, including pollen,an ovule, scion, a rootstock, a fruit, and a cell of the plant.

In another aspect of the invention, a plant of pepper hybrid SV3255PBand/or pepper lines SBR-99-1335 and SBY-99-1336 comprising an addedheritable trait is provided. The heritable trait may comprise a geneticlocus that is, for example, a dominant or recessive allele. In oneembodiment of the invention, a plant of pepper hybrid SV3255PB and/orpepper lines SBR-99-1335 and SBY-99-1336 is defined as comprising asingle locus conversion. In specific embodiments of the invention, anadded genetic locus confers one or more traits such as, for example,herbicide tolerance, insect resistance, disease resistance, and modifiedcarbohydrate metabolism. In further embodiments, the trait may beconferred by a naturally occurring gene introduced into the genome of aline by backcrossing, a natural or induced mutation, or a transgeneintroduced through genetic transformation techniques into the plant or aprogenitor of any previous generation thereof. When introduced throughtransformation, a genetic locus may comprise one or more genesintegrated at a single chromosomal location.

The invention also concerns the seed of pepper hybrid SV3255PB and/orpepper lines SBR-99-1335 and SBY-99-1336. The pepper seed of theinvention may be provided as an essentially homogeneous population ofpepper seed of pepper hybrid SV3255PB and/or pepper lines SBR-99-1335and SBY-99-1336. Essentially homogeneous populations of seed aregenerally free from substantial numbers of other seed. Therefore, seedof hybrid SV3255PB and/or pepper lines SBR-99-1335 and SBY-99-1336 maybe defined as forming at least about 97% of the total seed, including atleast about 98%, 99% or more of the seed. The seed population may beseparately grown to provide an essentially homogeneous population ofpepper plants designated SV3255PB and/or pepper lines SBR-99-1335 andSBY-99-1336.

In yet another aspect of the invention, a tissue culture of regenerablecells of a pepper plant of hybrid SV3255PB and/or pepper linesSBR-99-1335 and SBY-99-1336 is provided. The tissue culture willpreferably be capable of regenerating pepper plants capable ofexpressing all of the physiological and morphological characteristics ofthe starting plant, and of regenerating plants having substantially thesame genotype as the starting plant. Examples of some of thephysiological and morphological characteristics of the hybrid SV3255PBand/or pepper lines SBR-99-1335 and SBY-99-1336 include those traits setforth in the tables herein. The regenerable cells in such tissuecultures may be derived, for example, from embryos, meristems,cotyledons, pollen, leaves, anthers, roots, root tips, pistils, flowers,seed and stalks. Still further, the present invention provides pepperplants regenerated from a tissue culture of the invention, the plantshaving all the physiological and morphological characteristics of hybridSV3255PB and/or pepper lines SBR-99-1335 and SBY-99-1336.

In still yet another aspect of the invention, processes are provided forproducing pepper seeds, plants and fruit, which processes generallycomprise crossing a first parent pepper plant with a second parentpepper plant, wherein at least one of the first or second parent pepperplants is a plant of pepper line SBR-99-1335 or pepper line SBY-99-1336.These processes may be further exemplified as processes for preparinghybrid pepper seed or plants, wherein a first pepper plant is crossedwith a second pepper plant of a different, distinct genotype to providea hybrid that has, as one of its parents, a plant of pepper lineSBR-99-1335 or pepper line SBY-99-1336. In these processes, crossingwill result in the production of seed. The seed production occursregardless of whether the seed is collected or not.

In one embodiment of the invention, the first step in “crossing”comprises planting seeds of a first and second parent pepper plant,often in proximity so that pollination will occur for example, mediatedby insect vectors. Alternatively, pollen can be transferred manually.Where the plant is self-pollinated, pollination may occur without theneed for direct human intervention other than plant cultivation.

A second step may comprise cultivating or growing the seeds of first andsecond parent pepper plants into plants that bear flowers. A third stepmay comprise preventing self-pollination of the plants, such as byemasculating the flowers (i.e., killing or removing the pollen).

A fourth step for a hybrid cross may comprise cross-pollination betweenthe first and second parent pepper plants. Yet another step comprisesharvesting the seeds from at least one of the parent pepper plants. Theharvested seed can be grown to produce a pepper plant or hybrid pepperplant.

The present invention also provides the pepper seeds and plants producedby a process that comprises crossing a first parent pepper plant with asecond parent pepper plant, wherein at least one of the first or secondparent pepper plants is a plant of pepper hybrid SV3255PB and/or pepperlines SBR-99-1335 and SBY-99-1336. In one embodiment of the invention,pepper seed and plants produced by the process are first generation (F₁)hybrid pepper seed and plants produced by crossing a plant in accordancewith the invention with another, distinct plant. The present inventionfurther contemplates plant parts of such an F₁ hybrid pepper plant, andmethods of use thereof. Therefore, certain exemplary embodiments of theinvention provide an F₁ hybrid pepper plant and seed thereof.

In still yet another aspect, the present invention provides a method ofproducing a plant derived from hybrid SV3255PB and/or pepper linesSBR-99-1335 and SBY-99-1336, the method comprising the steps of: (a)preparing a progeny plant derived from hybrid SV3255PB and/or pepperlines SBR-99-1335 and SBY-99-1336, wherein said preparing comprisescrossing a plant of the hybrid SV3255PB and/or pepper lines SBR-99-1335and SBY-99-1336 with a second plant; and (b) crossing the progeny plantwith itself or a second plant to produce a seed of a progeny plant of asubsequent generation. In further embodiments, the method mayadditionally comprise: (c) growing a progeny plant of a subsequentgeneration from said seed of a progeny plant of a subsequent generationand crossing the progeny plant of a subsequent generation with itself ora second plant; and repeating the steps for an additional 3-10generations to produce a plant derived from hybrid SV3255PB and/orpepper lines SBR-99-1335 and SBY-99-1336. The plant derived from hybridSV3255PB and/or pepper lines SBR-99-1335 and SBY-99-1336 may be aninbred line, and the aforementioned repeated crossing steps may bedefined as comprising sufficient inbreeding to produce the inbred line.In the method, it may be desirable to select particular plants resultingfrom step (c) for continued crossing according to steps (b) and (c). Byselecting plants having one or more desirable traits, a plant derivedfrom hybrid SV3255PB and/or pepper lines SBR-99-1335 and SBY-99-1336 isobtained which possesses some of the desirable traits of the line/hybridas well as potentially other selected traits.

In certain embodiments, the present invention provides a method ofproducing food or feed comprising: (a) obtaining a plant of pepperhybrid SV3255PB and/or pepper lines SBR-99-1335 and SBY-99-1336, whereinthe plant has been cultivated to maturity, and (b) collecting at leastone pepper from the plant.

In still yet another aspect of the invention, the genetic complement ofpepper hybrid SV3255PB and/or pepper lines SBR-99-1335 and SBY-99-1336is provided. The phrase “genetic complement” is used to refer to theaggregate of nucleotide sequences, the expression of which sequencesdefines the phenotype of, in the present case, a pepper plant, or a cellor tissue of that plant. A genetic complement thus represents thegenetic makeup of a cell, tissue or plant, and a hybrid geneticcomplement represents the genetic make up of a hybrid cell, tissue orplant. The invention thus provides pepper plant cells that have agenetic complement in accordance with the pepper plant cells disclosedherein, and seeds and plants containing such cells.

Plant genetic complements may be assessed by genetic marker profiles,and by the expression of phenotypic traits that are characteristic ofthe expression of the genetic complement, e.g., isozyme typing profiles.It is understood that hybrid SV3255PB and/or pepper lines SBR-99-1335and SBY-99-1336 could be identified by any of the many well knowntechniques such as, for example, Simple Sequence Length Polymorphisms(SSLPs) (Williams et al., Nucleic Acids Res., 1 8:6531-6535, 1990),Randomly Amplified Polymorphic DNAs (RAPDs), DNA AmplificationFingerprinting (DAF), Sequence Characterized Amplified Regions (SCARs),Arbitrary Primed Polymerase Chain Reaction (AP-PCR), Amplified FragmentLength Polymorphisms (AFLPs) (EP 534 858, specifically incorporatedherein by reference in its entirety), and Single NucleotidePolymorphisms (SNPs) (Wang et al., Science, 280:1077-1082, 1998).

In still yet another aspect, the present invention provides hybridgenetic complements, as represented by pepper plant cells, tissues,plants, and seeds, formed by the combination of a haploid geneticcomplement of a pepper plant of the invention with a haploid geneticcomplement of a second pepper plant, preferably, another, distinctpepper plant. In another aspect, the present invention provides a pepperplant regenerated from a tissue culture that comprises a hybrid geneticcomplement of this invention.

Any embodiment discussed herein with respect to one aspect of theinvention applies to other aspects of the invention as well, unlessspecifically noted.

The term “about” is used to indicate that a value includes the standarddeviation of the mean for the device or method being employed todetermine the value. The use of the term “or” in the claims is used tomean “and/or” unless explicitly indicated to refer to alternatives onlyor the alternatives are mutually exclusive. When used in conjunctionwith the word “comprising” or other open language in the claims, thewords “a” and “an” denote “one or more,” unless specifically notedotherwise. The terms “comprise,” “have” and “include” are open-endedlinking verbs. Any forms or tenses of one or more of these verbs, suchas “comprises,” “comprising,” “has,” “having,” “includes” and“including,” are also open-ended. For example, any method that“comprises,” “has” or “includes” one or more steps is not limited topossessing only those one or more steps and also covers other unlistedsteps. Similarly, any plant that “comprises,” “has” or “includes” one ormore traits is not limited to possessing only those one or more traitsand covers other unlisted traits.

Other objects, features and advantages of the present invention willbecome apparent from the following detailed description. It should beunderstood, however, that the detailed description and any specificexamples provided, while indicating specific embodiments of theinvention, are given by way of illustration only, since various changesand modifications within the spirit and scope of the invention willbecome apparent to those skilled in the art from this detaileddescription.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The invention provides methods and compositions relating to plants,seeds and derivatives of pepper hybrid SV3255PB, pepper line SBR-99-1335and pepper line SBY-99-1336.

Sweet bell pepper hybrid SV3255PB, also known as “PX 09983255”, developsa medium-sized plant with good leaf cover. The anthocyaninless plantproduces a high quality, medium to large, smooth, uniform, four-lobedfruit. Its fruit setting pattern is extended and similar in distributionto the commercial hybrid PX 09928302, also known as “9928302”. HybridSV3255PB displayed similar fruit production per area (marketable fruitweight per area; 99%) and mean fruit weight (102%) compared to 9979325.The firm fruit mature from a dark green to red bell pepper shaped fruittypically more smooth and uniform than 9928302 or 9979325. HybridSV3255PB is resistant to bacterial leaf spot (BLS) races (0, 1, 2, 3, 4,5, 6, 7, 8, 9 and 10) caused by Xanthomonas campestris pv. vesicatoria(Xcv 0-10) and Tobamo virus pathotype P0 (Tm0). The hybrid is intendedfor open field production. The main use of this hybrid would be in areasthat could be affected by Xcv 0-10. Currently races 4 and 6 of Xcvseverely limit production in certain areas of the SE USA, particularlyGeorgia and Florida. Without resistance to Xcv 0-10 it may be impossibleto prevent heavy infection under environmentally conditions that favorbacterial leaf spot (BLS). There are currently three commerciallyavailable hybrids with Xcv 0-10 resistance, “99422815”, “9954288” and“9979325”. The first two hybrids, “9942815” and “9954288”, are bestadapted to Georgia while SV3255PB is best adapted to Florida. “9979325”is adapted to Florida but produces more concentrated set and less leafcoverage than SV3255PB.

A. ORIGIN AND BREEDING HISTORY OF PEPPER HYBRID SV3255PB

The parents of hybrid SV3255PB are SBR-99-1335 and SBY-99-1336. Theseparents were created as follows:

Parent line SBR-99-1335, also known as SBR 99-1335, was developed at theSeminis Breeding Stations in Felda, Fla. (LB) by pedigree selection fromSeminis hybrid SVR 9931012. This hybrid resulted from the cross betweenfemale “SBR-99-1209” and male “03LB 01196-03”. SBR 99-1335 develops amedium-sized plant that produces a continuous set of smooth, firm,medium dark green, medium-sized, four-lobed fruit. The fruit average alength to diameter ratio of one (LD=1). The fruit mature to a red fruitwith a consistent shape and set. The anthocyaninless hybrid is resistantto the Tobacco mosaic virus pathotype P0 (Tm0; L1 gene). It is alsoresistant to bacterial leaf spot races 0 through 10 caused byXanthomonas campestris pv. vesicatoria (Xcv; bs5 gene). It is alsopossesses resistance to Xcv races 0, 1, 2, 3, 7, and 8 as conferred bythe Bs2 gene.

The female parent, SBR-99-1209, developed a medium to large plant withlight to medium leaf curl. It produced a moderate set of rather deep,dark green, firm red fruit. The parent was resistant to Tm0, resistantto Xcv races 0, 1, 2, 3, 7, and 8 (Bs2 gene) and the Tobacco etch virus(TEV) pathotype P0 (pvr2-2 gene).

The male parent, 03LB 01196-03, segregated for the anthocyaninless traitand resistance to Xcv races 0 through 10. It developed a large plantthat set blocky to somewhat flat (LD<1) dark-green to red fruit.

Neither parent was marketed directly as open pollinated lines.SBR-99-1335 differs from SBR-99-1209 because it is anthocyaninless andsusceptible the TEV while SBR-99-1209 is resistant and notanthocyaninless. SBR 99-1335 differs from 03LB 01196-03 because it isresistant to Tm0 and fixed resistant to races 0 through 10 Xcv while03LB 01196-03 is segregating for resistance to Xcv races 0 through 10and susceptible to Tm0.

The crossing and selections were made as follows:

January, Year 1: The F1 hybrid SVR 9931012 was made from the parents“SBR-99-1209” and “03LB 01196-03” at the Seminis Research Station inFelda, Fla.

January, Year 2: Plants of the F1 hybrid SVR 9931012 were transplantedinto a hybrid trial in Felda, Fla., and allowed to self. Seed from theselfed plants were massed.

July, Year 2: Planted the F2 inbred line in Felda, Fla. The line wassegregating for the anthocyaninless trait and produced dark green,smooth, moderately firm, red fruit. Individual plants resistant to Xcvraces 0 through 10 were selected.

July, Year 3: Planted the F3 inbred line in Felda, Fla. The line wassegregating for the anthocyaninless trait and produced acceptably firm,smooth dark green fruit that matured to red fruit. Individual plantsresistant to Xcv races 0 through 10 were selected.

January, Year 4: Planted the F4 inbred line in Felda, Fla. The line wassegregating for the anthocyaninless trait and produced dark green,semi-rough, large fruits. Individual plants resistant to Xcv races 0through 10 were selected.

July, Year 4: Planted the F5 inbred line in Felda, Fla. The line wassegregating for the anthocyaninless trait and developed large to extralarge, very smooth, very dark green fruits. Tests of selectionsindicated the line was fixed for presence of the Bs2 gene. Individualplants resistant to Xcv races 0 through 10 were selected.

January, Year 5: Planted the F6 inbred line in Felda, Fla. The line wasfixed for the anthocyaninless trait. Individual plants resistant to Xcvraces 0 through 10 were selected.

July, Year 5: Planted the F7 inbred line. The anthocyaninless lineproduced medium-large, smooth blocky fruit with semi-deep shoulders.Individual plants resistant to Xcv races 0 through 10 were selected.

January, Year 6: Planted the F8 inbred line. The anthocyaninless linedeveloped a medium-sized plant that produced a heavy set of medium tolarge four-lobed, semi-firm fruit. Individual plants resistant to Xcvraces 0 through 10 were selected.

July, Year 7: Planted the F9 inbred line. The anthocyaninless line adeveloped a medium-sized plant. The plan produced a continuous set witha large proportion of four-lobed fruit. The line is resistant to Xcvraces 0 through 10. The line was bulked.

January, Year 8: The bulked seed tested resistant to Tm0 and Xcv races 0through 10. It was submitted to Foundation Seed as parent SBR 99-1335.

SBR 99-1335 has been observed as uniform and stable over two generationsduring the three years and it is within commercially acceptable limits.As is true with other sweet pepper inbreds, a small percentage ofvariants can occur within commercially acceptable limits for almost anycharacteristic during the course of repeated multiplication. However, noknown variants were observed during the times that SBR 99-1335 wasobserved in eleven field trials and six times it was observed in greenhouse trials.

Parent line SBY-99-1336 was developed at the Seminis Breeding Stationsin Felda, Fla. (LB) by pedigree selection from Seminis hybrid 9931000.This hybrid resulted from the cross between female “SBY-99-1179” andmale “03LB 00450-04”. SBY-99-1336 develops a medium-sized plant withgood leaf cover that produces a continuous set of dark green maturing toyellow, four-lobed, small to medium-small fruit, blocky, smooth andsomewhat deep fruit. The anthocyaninless line is resistant to theTobacco mosaic virus pathotype P₀ (Tm0; L₁ gene). It is also resistantto bacterial leaf spot races 0 through 10 caused by Xanthomonascampestris pv. vesicatoria (Xcv; bs₅ and Bs₂ genes), and mild form ofTobacco etch virus (TEV; pvr2-2 gene).

The female parent SBY 99-1179, also known as “SBY-99-1179”, develops ananthocyaninless, small to medium-sized plant that provides heavy cover.The plant produced a firm, weak green maturing to yellow fruit with goodshape and a nice shoulder. Tests indicate the line is fixed forresistance to the TEV, Tm0, and Xcv races 0, 1, 2, 3, 7 and 8 (Bs₂gene). It is also resistant or tolerant to Phytopthora capsici.

The male parent, “03LB 00450-04”, sets red, medium-sized, smooth, blockyfruit resistant to Xcv races 0 through 10 (bs₅ gene).

Neither parent was marketed directly as open pollinated lines.SBY-99-1336 differs from SBY-99-1179 because it is susceptible to Pcwhile SBY-99-1179 is resistant. SBY-99-1336 differs from 03LB 000450-04because it is yellow fruited, anthocyaninless, resistant to mild TEV(pvr2-2 gene) and Tm0, while 03LB 00450-04 is red-fruited, segregatingfor the anthocyaninless trait, susceptible to mild TEV (pvr2-2 gene) andTm0, and lacks the Bs₂ gene.

The crossing and selections were made as follows:

July, Year 1: The F₁ hybrid, 9931000, was made from the parentsSBY-99-1179 and 03LB 000450-04 at the Seminis Research Station in Felda,Fla.

January, Year 2: Plants of the F₁ hybrid 9931000 were transplanted intoa hybrid trial in Felda, Fla., and allowed to self. Seed from the selfedplants were massed.

July, Year 2: Planted the F₂ inbred line in Felda, Fla. The linesegregated for the anthocyaninless trait and developed a small plantthat produced a dark green, smooth fruit of reduced size. Individualplants resistant to Xcv races 0 through 10 were selected. Selectionstested susceptible to Pc.

January, Year 3: Planted the F₃ inbred line in Felda, Fla. The linesegregated for the anthocyaninless trait and developed a good stand ofplants that produced yellow fruit. Individual plants resistant to races0 through 10 Xcv were selected.

July, Year 3: Planted the F₄ inbred line in Felda, Fla. The linesegregated for the anthocyaninless trait and developed plants that lineproduced a heavy set of dark green, smooth fruit. Individual plantsresistant to Xcv races 0 through 10 were selected. Tests of selectionsindicated the line was fixed for the Bs₂ gene.

January, Year 4: Planted the F₅ inbred line in Felda, Fla. The linesegregated for the anthocyaninless trait and produced medium dark,medium-large fruit with occasional epidermal separation. Individualplants resistant to races 0 through 10 Xcv were selected.

July, Year 4: Planted the F₆ inbred line in Felda, Fla. The line wasfixed for the anthocyaninless trait and developed a plant with good leafcover. The plant produced a heavy set of dark green, glossy, deep,blocky fruit that were a little ribby but large and uniform in shape andsize. Individual plants resistant to races 0 through 10 Xcv wereselected.

January, Year 5: Planted the F₇ inbred line in Felda, Fla. The lineproduced an average set of semi-firm fruit of medium-large size.Individual plants resistant to races 0 through 10 Xcv were selected. Theline tested fixed for resistance to Tm0.

January, Year 6: Planted the F₈ inbred line. The line a developedsemi-lodging plant that produced firm, deep, tapered, four-lobed fruit.The fruit were rather small but dark green. The line is resistant toraces 0 through 10 Xcv. The line was bulked and tested fixed forresistance to Tm0 and mild TEV.

June, Year 7: The bulked seed tested resistant to Tm0, mild TEV and Xcvraces 0 through 10 Xcv. It is also fixed for the Bs₂ gene. It wassubmitted to Foundation Seed as parent SBY-99-1336.

SBY-99-1336 has been observed as uniform and stable over two generationsduring the three years and it is within commercially acceptable limits.As is true with other sweet pepper inbreds, a small percentage ofvariants can occur within commercially acceptable limits for almost anycharacteristic during the course of repeated multiplication. However, noknown variants were observed during the four times that SBY-99-1336 wasobserved in 11 field trials and six times it was observed in green housetrials.

The parent lines are uniform and stable, as is a hybrid producedtherefrom. A small percentage of variants can occur within commerciallyacceptable limits for almost any characteristic during the course ofrepeated multiplication. However no variants are expected.

B. PHYSIOLOGICAL AND MORPHOLOGICAL CHARACTERISTICS OF PEPPER HYBRIDSV3255PB, PEPPER LINE SBR-99-1335 AND PEPPER LINE SBY-99-1336

In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, there isprovided a plant having the physiological and morphologicalcharacteristics of pepper hybrid SV3255PB and the parent lines thereof.A description of the physiological and morphological characteristics ofsuch plants is presented in Tables 1-3.

TABLE 1 Physiological and Morphological Characteristics of HybridSV3255PB Comparison Variety - Characteristic SV3255PB Early CalWonder 1. Species C. annuum C. annuum 2. Maturity (in region of bestadaptability) days from transplanting until 52 70 mature green stagedays from transplanting until 92 96 mature red or yellow stage days fromdirect seeding until 91 109 mature green stage days from direct seedinguntil 131 134 mature red or yellow stage 3. Plant habit semi-spreadingcompact attitude upright/erect (De upright/erect Cayenne, Doux très longdes Landes, Piquant d'Algérie) plant height 51 cm 48.1 cm plant width 55cm 51.5 cm length of stem from cotyledon 15 cm 11.5 cm to first flowerlength of the third internode 77 mm 63.8 mm (from soil surface) lengthof stem medium (Belsir, medium Lamuyo) shortened internode (in upperpresent (Fehér, absent part) Kalocsai 601, Kalocsai 702) number ofinternodes between more than three the first flower and the (Kalocsai702) shortened internodes (varieties with shortened internodes only)stem: hairiness of nodes absent or very weak absent or very weak(Arlequin) height medium (HRF) medium basal branches none few branchflexibility willowy (Cayenne rigid Long Red) stem strength (breakageintermediate intermediate resistance) 4. Leaf length of blade medium(Atol, Blondy, medium Marconi, Merit, Anthea) width of blade medium(Albaregia, medium Balaton, Danubia, Marconi, Merit) width 63 mm 57.4 mmlength 100 mm 107.5 mm petiole length 39 mm 45.8 mm color dark greenlight green color (RHS color chart) 147A 147A intensity of green colordark (Dolmy, Tinto) light mature leaf shape ovate (Balico, Sonar) ovateleaf and stem pubescence absent absent undulation of margin absent (DeCayenne) absent blistering very weak weak profile in cross sectionstrongly concave moderately concave (Sla{acute over (v)}y) glossinessweak (De Cayenne, medium Doux très long des Landes) 5. Flower peduncle:attitude erect (Fehér, Red Chili) erect flowers per leaf axil 1 1 calyxlobes 6 6.4 petals 7 6.6 diameter 27 mm 24.9 mm corolla color whitewhite corolla throat markings yellow yellow anther color yellow purplestyle length same as stamen same as stamen self-incompatibility presentabsent 6. Fruit group Bell (Yolo Wonder L.) Bell (Yolo Wonder L.) color(before maturity) green (California green Wonder, Lamuyo) intensity ofcolor (before dark medium maturity) immature fruit color dark greenmedium green immature fruit color (RHS 139A 137A color chart)attitude/position horizontal (PAZ drooping/pendent szentesi, Vinedale)length Medium medium diameter medium (Doux italien, broad Corno di toro)ratio length/diameter medium medium calyx diameter 31.8 mm 30.3 mm fruitlength 85.4 mm 72.5 mm fruit diameter at calyx 82 mm 69.2 mm attachmentfruit diameter at mid-point 84.6 mm 74.3 mm flesh thickness at mid-point5.8 mm 4.8 mm average number of fruits per 8.8 9.3 plant % large fruits42 (weight range: 101 35.9 (weight range 120 to 200 g) to 179 g) %medium fruits 36 (weight range: 51 to 34.1 (weight range 60 to 100 g)119 g) % small fruits 22 (weight range: 1 to 30.0 (weight range 1 to 50g) 59 g) average fruit weight 104.3 gm 114.4 gm fruit shape(longitudinal square (Delphin, Yolo square section) Wonder) fruit shape(cross section, at elliptic (Sweet banana) quadrangular level ofplacenta) sinuation of pericarp at basal absent or very weak very weakpart (Delphin, Kalocsai V- 2, Milord) sinuation of pericarp absent orvery weak very weak excluding basal part (Delphin, Milord) texture ofsurface smooth or very slightly smooth or very slightly wrinkled(Milord) wrinkled color (at maturity) red (Fehér, Lamuyo) red intensityof color (at maturity) dark dark mature fruit color red red mature fruitcolor (RHS color 46A 46A chart) glossiness strong (Doux italien,medium/moderate Trophy) stalk cavity present (Bingor, present Lamuyo)depth of stalk cavity very deep (Cancun, medium Cubor, Pablor, ShyBeauty) pedicel length 38.5 mm 24.4 mm pedicel thickness 9.6 mm 6 mmpedicel shape curved curved pedicel cavity present present depth ofpedicel cavity 17.5 mm 20.7 mm stalk: length medium (Fehér, Sonar)medium stalk: thickness very thick (Domingo, medium Galaxy, Paraiso)base shape cupped cupped shape of apex very depressed (Kerala, verydepressed Monte, Osir) shape Bell (Yolo Wonder L.) Bell (Yolo Wonder L.)set concentrated scattered depth of interloculary grooves medium(Clovis, medium Lamuyo, Marconi) number of locules predominantly fourand predominantly four and more (Palio, PAZ more szentesi) % fruits withthree locules 27% 33% % fruits with four locules 46% 64% % fruits withfive or more 27% 3% locules average number of locules 4 3.9 thickness offlesh thick (Andevalo, thick Bingor, Daniel, Topgirl) calyx: aspectnon-enveloping/ non-enveloping/saucer- saucer-shaped shaped (Lamuyo,Sonar) pungency sweet sweet capsaicin in placenta absent (Sonar) absentflavor mild pepper flavor moderate glossiness shiny shiny 7. Seed seedcavity length 67.7 mm 49.3 mm seed cavity diameter 69.2 mm 55 mmplacenta length 36.4 mm 23.1 mm number of seeds per fruit 164 80 gramsper 1000 seeds 6.6 gm 6.6 gm color yellow yellow 8. Anthocyanin seedlinghypocotyl absent (Albaregia, moderate Albena) stem absent absentcoloration of nodes absent (Albaregia) weak leaf absent absent pedicelabsent absent calyx absent absent anther absent (Danza) present fruitanthocyanin coloration Absent present beginning of flowering (1^(st)medium (Lamuyo, early flower on 2^(nd) flowering node) Latino) time ofmaturity medium (Lamuyo, medium Latino, Sonar) *These are typicalvalues. Values may vary due to environment. Other values that aresubstantially equivalent are also within the scope of the invention.

TABLE 2 Physiological and Morphological Characteristics of LineSBR-99-1335 Comparison Variety - Characteristic SBR-99-1335 Early CalWonder 1. Species C. annuum C. annuum 2. Maturity (in region of bestadaptability) days from transplanting until 60 70 mature green stagedays from transplanting until 88 96 mature red or yellow stage days fromdirect seeding until 100 109 mature green stage days from direct seedinguntil 129 134 mature red or yellow stage 3. Plant habit compact compactattitude upright/erect (De upright/erect Cayenne, Doux très long desLandes, Piquant d'Algérie) plant height 44.1 cm 48.1 cm plant width 54.2cm 51.5 cm length of stem from cotyledon 12.6 cm 11.5 cm to first flowerlength of the third internode 73.5 mm 63.8 mm (from soil surface) lengthof stem medium (Belsir, medium Lamuyo) shortened internode (in upperpresent (Fehér, absent part) Kalocsai 601, Kalocsai 702) number ofinternodes between one to three (Fehér) the first flower and theshortened internodes (varieties with shortened internodes only) stem:hairiness of nodes weak (Andevalo, absent or very weak Clovis) heightshort (Albaregia) medium basal branches few (2-3) few branch flexibilitywillowy (Cayenne rigid Long Red) stem strength (breakage strongintermediate resistance) 4. Leaf length of blade medium (Atol, Blondy,medium Marconi, Merit, Anthea) width of blade medium (Albaregia, mediumBalaton, Danubia, Marconi, Merit) width 63.1 mm 57.4 mm length 108.1 mm107.5 mm petiole length 60.7 mm 45.8 mm color dark green light greencolor (RHS color chart) 137A 147A intensity of green color dark (Dolmy,Tinto) light mature leaf shape lanceolate (Diavolo, ovate Recio) leafand stem pubescence absent absent undulation of margin medium (Tenor)absent blistering medium (Merit) weak profile in cross section stronglyconcave moderately concave (Slávy) glossiness weak (De Cayenne, mediumDoux très long des Landes) 5. Flower peduncle: attitude erect (Feher,Red Chili) erect flowers per leaf axil 1 1 calyx lobes 6.4 6.4 petals6.4 6.6 diameter 25.3 mm 24.9 mm corolla color white white corollathroat markings white yellow anther color yellow purple style lengthexceeds stamen same as stamen self-incompatibility present absent 6.Fruit group Bell (Yolo Wonder L.) Bell (Yolo Wonder L.) color (beforematurity) green (California green Wonder, Lamuyo) intensity of color(before dark medium maturity) immature fruit color dark green mediumgreen immature fruit color (RHS 137A 137A color chart) attitude/positiondrooping/pendent (De drooping/pendent Cayenne, Lamuyo) length medium(Fehér, medium Lamuyo) diameter broad (Clovis, broad Lamuyo) ratiolength/diameter medium medium calyx diameter 60.5 mm 30.3 mm fruitlength 68.8 mm 72.5 mm fruit diameter at calyx 66.2 mm 69.2 mmattachment fruit diameter at mid-point 75.2 mm 74.3 mm flesh thicknessat mid-point 5.1 mm 4.8 mm average number of fruits per 11.4 9.3 plant %large fruits 20 (weight range: 101 35.9 (weight range 120 to 175 g) to179 g) % medium fruits 38 (weight range: 51 to 34.1 (weight range 60 to100 g) 119 g) % small fruits 42 (weight range: 1 to 30.0 (weight range 1to 50 g) 59 g) average fruit weight 71.6 gm 114.4 gm fruit shape(longitudinal square (Delphin, Yolo square section) Wonder) fruit shape(cross section, at circular (Cherry Sweet, quadrangular level ofplacenta) Doux très long des Landes) sinuation of pericarp at basal weak(Donat) very weak part sinuation of pericarp weak (Clovis, Sonar) veryweak excluding basal part texture of surface smooth or very slightlysmooth or very slightly wrinkled (Milord) wrinkled color (at maturity)red (Fehér, Lamuyo) red intensity of color (at maturity) dark darkmature fruit color red red mature fruit color (RHS color N34A 46A chart)glossiness strong (Doux italien, medium/moderate Trophy) stalk cavitypresent (Bingor, present Lamuyo) depth of stalk cavity medium (Lamuyo,medium Magister) pedicel length 36.8 mm 24.4 mm pedicel thickness 8.4 mm6 mm pedicel shape curved curved pedicel cavity present present depth ofpedicel cavity 17.7 mm 20.7 mm stalk: length medium (Fehér, Sonar)medium stalk: thickness thick (Lamuyo, Trophy medium Palio) base shapecupped cupped shape of apex moderately depressed very depressed(Quadrato a'Asti rosso) shape Bell (Yolo Wonder L.) Bell (Yolo WonderL.) set concentrated scattered depth of interloculary grooves medium(Clovis, medium Lamuyo, Marconi) number of locules predominantly fourand predominantly four and more (Palio, PAZ more szentesi) % fruits withone locule  0%  0% % fruits with two locules  3%  0% % fruits with threelocules 14% 33% % fruits with four locules 70% 64% % fruits with five ormore 13.30%    3% locules average number of locules 3.9 3.9 thickness offlesh medium (Fehér, thick Lamuyo) calyx: aspect non-enveloping/non-enveloping/saucer- saucer-shaped shaped (Lamuyo, Sonar) pungencysweet sweet capsaicin in placenta absent (Sonar) absent flavor strongpepper flavor moderate glossiness shiny shiny 7. Seed seed cavity length47.5 mm 49.3 mm seed cavity diameter 62.5 mm 55 mm placenta length 28.6mm 23.1 mm number of seeds per fruit 86.9 80 grams per 1000 seeds 5.7 gm6.6 gm color yellow yellow 8. Anthocyanin coloration of seedling absent(Albaregia, moderate hypocotyl Albena) coloration of stem absent absentcoloration of nodes absent (Albaregia) weak coloration of leaf absentabsent coloration of pedicel absent absent coloration of calyx absentabsent coloration in anther absent (Danza) present fruit colorationabsent (Lamuyo) present beginning of flowering (1^(st) early (Carré douxextra early flower on 2^(nd) flowering node) hâtif, Cupido, Fehér,Flaviano, Lito, Trophy) time of maturity early (Fehér, Lady Bell, mediumTopgirl) *These are typical values. Values may vary due to environment.Other values that are substantially equivalent are also within the scopeof the invention.

TABLE 3 Physiological and Morphological Characteristics of LineSBY-99-1336 Comparison Variety - Characteristics SBY-99-1336 Early CalWonder 1. Species C. annuum C. annuum 2. Maturity (in region of bestadaptability) days from transplanting until 67 70 mature green stagedays from transplanting until 100 96 mature red or yellow stage daysfrom direct seeding until 108 109 mature green stage days from directseeding until 141 134 mature red or yellow stage 3. Plant habit compactcompact attitude upright/erect (De upright/erect Cayenne, Doux très longdes Landes, Piquant d'Algérie) plant height 40 cm 48.1 cm plant width45.8 cm 51.5 cm length of stem from cotyledon 15.6 cm 11.5 cm to firstflower length of the third internode 80.5 mm 63.8 mm (from soil surface)length of stem medium (Belsir, medium Lamuyo) shortened internode (inupper present (Fehér, absent part) Kalocsai 601, Kalocsai 702) number ofinternodes between more than three the first flower and the (Kalocsai702) shortened internodes (varieties with shortened internodes only)stem: hairiness of nodes weak (Andevalo, absent or very weak Clovis)height short (Albaregia) medium basal branches few (2-3) few branchflexibility willowy (Cayenne rigid Long Red) stem strength (breakagestrong intermediate resistance) 4. Leaf length of blade very long(Predi, medium Solario) width of blade medium (Albaregia, mediumBalaton, Danubia, Marconi, Merit) width 72.3 mm 57.4 mm length 128.4 mm107.5 mm petiole length 64.6 mm 45.8 mm color dark green light greencolor (RHS color chart) 137A 147A intensity of green color dark (Dolmy,Tinto) light mature leaf shape lanceolate (Diavolo, ovate Recio) leafand stem pubescence absent absent undulation of margin very weak absentblistering medium (Merit) weak profile in cross section strongly concavemoderately concave (Slávy) glossiness very weak (Diavolo) medium 5.Flower peduncle: attitude erect (Fehér, Red Chili) erect flowers perleaf axil 1.1 1 calyx lobes 6.8 6.4 petals 6.9 6.6 diameter 42.6 24.9 mmcorolla color white white corolla throat markings white yellow anthercolor yellow purple style length same as stamen same as stamenself-incompatibility absent absent 6. Fruit group Bell (Yolo Wonder L.)Bell (Yolo Wonder L.) color (before maturity) green (California greenWonder, Lamuyo) intensity of color (before dark medium maturity)immature fruit color dark green medium green immature fruit color (RHS137A 137A color chart) attitude/position erect/upright drooping/pendent(Kalocsai 601, Red Chili) length medium (Fehér, medium Lamuyo) diameterbroad (Clovis, broad Lamuyo) ratio length/diameter medium medium calyxdiameter 32.3 mm 30.3 mm fruit length 76.4 mm 72.5 mm fruit diameter atcalyx 69.6 mm 69.2 mm attachment fruit diameter at mid-point 77.1 mm74.3 mm flesh thickness at mid-point 4.9 mm 4.8 mm average number offruits per 6.8 mm 9.3 plant % large fruits 12 (weight range: 151 35.9(weight range 120 to 225 g) to 179 g) % medium fruits 44 (weight range:76 to 34.1 (weight range 60 to 150 g) 119 g) % small fruits 44 (weightrange: 1 to 30.0 (weight range 1 to 75 g) 59 g) average fruit weight 86gm 114.4 gm fruit shape (longitudinal square (Delphin, Yolo squaresection) Wonder) fruit shape (cross section, at angular/tri-angularquadrangular level of placenta) (Vinedale) sinuation of pericarp atbasal medium (Duna, Banán) very weak part sinuation of pericarp weak(Clovis, Sonar) very weak excluding basal part texture of surfaceslightly wrinkled smooth or very slightly (Doux très long des wrinkledLandes) color (at maturity) yellow (Golden red Calwonder, Heldor)intensity of color (at maturity) medium dark mature fruit colororange-yellow red mature fruit color (RHS color 17A 46A chart)glossiness strong (Doux italien, medium/moderate Trophy) stalk cavitypresent (Bingor, present Lamuyo) depth of stalk cavity deep (Osir,Quadrato medium d'Asti rosso, Surpas) pedicel length 28.7 mm 24.4 mmpedicel thickness 7.3 mm 6 mm pedicel shape curved curved pedicel cavitypresent present depth of pedicel cavity 16.8 mm 20.7 mm stalk: lengthshort (Surpas, Yolo medium Wonder, Zenith) stalk: thickness medium (Douxitalien, medium Surpas) base shape cupped cupped shape of apexmoderately depressed very depressed (Quadrato a'Asti rosso) shape Bell(Yolo Wonder L.) Bell (Yolo Wonder L.) set concentrated scattered depthof interloculary grooves medium (Clovis, medium Lamuyo, Marconi) numberof locules predominantly four and predominantly four and more (Palio,PAZ more szentesi) % fruits with one locule 0% 0% % fruits with twolocules 0% 0% % fruits with three locules 4% 33%  % fruits with fourlocules 67%  64%  % fruits with five or more 30%  3% locules averagenumber of locules 4.3 3.9 thickness of flesh medium (Fehér, thickLamuyo) calyx: aspect non-enveloping/ non-enveloping/saucer-saucer-shaped shaped (Lamuyo, Sonar) pungency sweet sweet capsaicin inplacenta absent (Sonar) absent flavor strong pepper flavor moderateglossiness shiny shiny 7. Seed seed cavity length 60 mm 49.3 mm seedcavity diameter 69 mm 55 mm placenta length 32.6 mm 23.1 mm number ofseeds per fruit 133 80 grams per 1000 seeds 6.1 gm 6.6 gm color yellowyellow 8. Anthocyanin seedling hypocotyl absent (Albaregia, moderateAlbena) stem absent absent coloration of nodes absent (Albaregia) weakleaf absent absent pedicel absent absent calyx absent absent antherabsent (Danza) present fruit coloration absent (Lamuyo) presentbeginning of flowering (1^(st) late (Daniel, Piquant early flower on2^(nd) flowering node) d'Algérie, Zingaro) time of maturity medium(Lamuyo, medium Latino, Sonar) *These are typical values. Values mayvary due to environment. Other values that are substantially equivalentare also within the scope of the invention.

C. BREEDING PEPPER PLANTS

One aspect of the current invention concerns methods for producing seedof pepper hybrid SV3255PB involving crossing pepper lines SBR-99-1335and SBY-99-1336. Alternatively, in other embodiments of the invention,hybrid SV3255PB, line SBR-99-1335, or line SBY-99-1336 may be crossedwith itself or with any second plant. Such methods can be used forpropagation of hybrid SV3255PB and/or the pepper lines SBR-99-1335 andSBY-99-1336, or can be used to produce plants that are derived fromhybrid SV3255PB and/or the pepper lines SBR-99-1335 and SBY-99-1336.Plants derived from hybrid SV3255PB and/or the pepper lines SBR-99-1335and SBY-99-1336 may be used, in certain embodiments, for the developmentof new pepper varieties.

The development of new varieties using one or more starting varieties iswell known in the art. In accordance with the invention, novel varietiesmay be created by crossing hybrid SV3255PB followed by multiplegenerations of breeding according to such well known methods. Newvarieties may be created by crossing with any second plant. In selectingsuch a second plant to cross for the purpose of developing novel lines,it may be desired to choose those plants which either themselves exhibitone or more selected desirable characteristics or which exhibit thedesired characteristic(s) when in hybrid combination. Once initialcrosses have been made, inbreeding and selection take place to producenew varieties. For development of a uniform line, often five or moregenerations of selfing and selection are involved.

Uniform lines of new varieties may also be developed by way ofdouble-haploids. This technique allows the creation of true breedinglines without the need for multiple generations of selfing andselection. In this manner true breeding lines can be produced in aslittle as one generation. Haploid embryos may be produced frommicrospores, pollen, anther cultures, or ovary cultures. The haploidembryos may then be doubled autonomously, or by chemical treatments(e.g. colchicine treatment). Alternatively, haploid embryos may be growninto haploid plants and treated to induce chromosome doubling. In eithercase, fertile homozygous plants are obtained. In accordance with theinvention, any of such techniques may be used in connection with a plantof the invention and progeny thereof to achieve a homozygous line.

Backcrossing can also be used to improve an inbred plant. Backcrossingtransfers a specific desirable trait from one inbred or non-inbredsource to an inbred that lacks that trait. This can be accomplished, forexample, by first crossing a superior inbred (A) (recurrent parent) to adonor inbred (non-recurrent parent), which carries the appropriate locusor loci for the trait in question. The progeny of this cross are thenmated back to the superior recurrent parent (A) followed by selection inthe resultant progeny for the desired trait to be transferred from thenon-recurrent parent. After five or more backcross generations withselection for the desired trait, the progeny have the characteristicbeing transferred, but are like the superior parent for most or almostall other loci. The last backcross generation would be selfed to givepure breeding progeny for the trait being transferred.

The plants of the present invention are particularly well suited for thedevelopment of new lines based on the elite nature of the geneticbackground of the plants. In selecting a second plant to cross withSV3255PB and/or pepper lines SBR-99-1335 and SBY-99-1336 for the purposeof developing novel pepper lines, it will typically be preferred tochoose those plants which either themselves exhibit one or more selecteddesirable characteristics or which exhibit the desired characteristic(s)when in hybrid combination. Examples of desirable traits may include, inspecific embodiments, high seed yield, high seed germination, seedlingvigor, high fruit yield, disease tolerance or resistance, andadaptability for soil and climate conditions. Consumer-driven traits,such as a fruit shape, color, texture, and taste are other examples oftraits that may be incorporated into new lines of pepper plantsdeveloped by this invention.

D. PERFORMANCE CHARACTERISTICS

As described above, hybrid SV3255PB exhibits desirable traits, asconferred by pepper lines SBR-99-1335 and SBY-99-1336. The performancecharacteristics of hybrid SV3255PB and pepper lines SBR-99-1335 andSBY-99-1336 were the subject of an objective analysis of the performancetraits relative to other varieties. The results of the analysis arepresented below.

Parent line SBY-99-1336 develops a medium-sized plant with good leafcover that produces a continuous set of dark green maturing to yellow,four-lobed, small to medium-small fruit, blocky, smooth and frequentlydeep fruit. The anthocyaninless line is resistant to the Tobacco mosaicvirus pathotype P0 (Tm0; L1 gene). It is also resistant to bacterialleaf spot races 0 through 10 caused by Xanthomonas campestris pv.vesicatoria (Xcv; bs5 and Bs2 genes), and mild form of Tobacco etchvirus (TEV; pvr2-2 gene).

To the best of our knowledge, the most similar commercial variety toSBY-99-1336 is Early California Wonder. The characteristics which bestdescribe the differences between the two include but may not be limitedto:

-   -   SBY-99-1336 is resistant to races 0 through 10 of Xcv (conferred        by the bs₅ gene). Early California Wonder lacks this gene and is        susceptible.    -   SBY-99-1336 carries the Bs₂ gene which confers resistance to Xcv        races 0, 1, 2, 3, 7 and 8. Early California Wonder lacks this        gene and is susceptible.    -   SBY-99-1336 is resistant to Tm0 (L₁ gene). Early California        Wonder lacks this gene and is susceptible.    -   SBY-99-1336 is resistant to a mild form of TEV (pvr2-2 gene).        Early California Wonder lacks this gene and is susceptible.    -   SBY-99-1336 produced yellow fruit while Early California Wonder        produced red fruit.    -   SBY-99-1336 is anthocyaninless while Early California Wonder is        not anthocyaninless.

SBR 99-1335 develops a medium-sized plant that produces a continuous setof smooth, firm, medium dark green, medium-sized, four-lobed fruit. Thefruit average a length to diameter ratio of one (LD=1). The fruit matureto a red fruit with a consistent shape and set. The anthocyaninlesshybrid is resistant to the Tobacco mosaic virus pathotype P0 (Tm0; L1gene). It is also resistant to bacterial leaf spot races 0 through 10caused by Xanthomonas campestris pv. vesicatoria (Xcv; bs5 gene). It isalso possesses resistance to Xcv races 0, 1, 2, 3, 7, and 8 as conferredby the Bs2 gene.

To the best of our knowledge, the most similar commercial variety toSBR-99-1335 is Early California Wonder. The characteristics which bestdescribe the differences between the two include but may not be limitedto:

-   -   SBR-99-1335 is resistant to races 0 through 10 of Xcv (conferred        by the bs5 gene). Early California Wonder lacks this gene and is        susceptible.    -   SBR-99-1335 carries the Bs2 gene which confers resistance to Xcv        races 0, 1, 2, 3, 7 and 8. Early California Wonder lacks this        gene and is susceptible.    -   SBR-99-1335 is resistant to Tm0 (L1 gene). Early California        Wonder lacks this gene and is susceptible.

TABLE 4 Comparison of SV3255PB with commercial hybrid for yield andfruit weight Marketable fruit weight per area Fruit weight SV3255PB9979325 9928302 Aristotle SV3255PB 9979325 9928302 Aristotle Trial Check% check % check 1 9979325 102 100 90 86 104 100 110 102 2 9979325 104100 95 107 100 100 112 105 3 9979325 127 100 106 100 111 100 93 100 49979325 102 100 90 86 102 100 112 100 5 9979325 121 100 164 79 117 100120 107 6 9979325 72 100 112 87 87 100 104 93 7 9979325 66 100 95 100 89928302 102 100 119 89 100 102 9 9928302 87 100 81 94 100 95

E. FURTHER EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

In certain aspects of the invention, plants described herein areprovided modified to include at least a first desired heritable trait.Such plants may, in one embodiment, be developed by a plant breedingtechnique called backcrossing, wherein essentially all of themorphological and physiological characteristics of a variety arerecovered in addition to a genetic locus transferred into the plant viathe backcrossing technique. The term single locus converted plant asused herein refers to those pepper plants which are developed by a plantbreeding technique called backcrossing, wherein essentially all of themorphological and physiological characteristics of a variety arerecovered in addition to the single locus transferred into the varietyvia the backcrossing technique. By essentially all of the morphologicaland physiological characteristics, it is meant that the characteristicsof a plant are recovered that are otherwise present when compared in thesame environment, other than an occasional variant trait that mightarise during backcrossing or direct introduction of a transgene.

Backcrossing methods can be used with the present invention to improveor introduce a characteristic into the present variety. The parentalpepper plant which contributes the locus for the desired characteristicis termed the nonrecurrent or donor parent. This terminology refers tothe fact that the nonrecurrent parent is used one time in the backcrossprotocol and therefore does not recur. The parental pepper plant towhich the locus or loci from the nonrecurrent parent are transferred isknown as the recurrent parent as it is used for several rounds in thebackcrossing protocol.

In a typical backcross protocol, the original variety of interest(recurrent parent) is crossed to a second variety (nonrecurrent parent)that carries the single locus of interest to be transferred. Theresulting progeny from this cross are then crossed again to therecurrent parent and the process is repeated until a pepper plant isobtained wherein essentially all of the morphological and physiologicalcharacteristics of the recurrent parent are recovered in the convertedplant, in addition to the single transferred locus from the nonrecurrentparent.

The selection of a suitable recurrent parent is an important step for asuccessful backcrossing procedure. The goal of a backcross protocol isto alter or substitute a single trait or characteristic in the originalvariety. To accomplish this, a single locus of the recurrent variety ismodified or substituted with the desired locus from the nonrecurrentparent, while retaining essentially all of the rest of the desiredgenetic, and therefore the desired physiological and morphologicalconstitution of the original variety. The choice of the particularnonrecurrent parent will depend on the purpose of the backcross; one ofthe major purposes is to add some commercially desirable trait to theplant. The exact backcrossing protocol will depend on the characteristicor trait being altered and the genetic distance between the recurrentand nonrecurrent parents. Although backcrossing methods are simplifiedwhen the characteristic being transferred is a dominant allele, arecessive allele, or an additive allele (between recessive anddominant), may also be transferred. In this instance it may be necessaryto introduce a test of the progeny to determine if the desiredcharacteristic has been successfully transferred.

In one embodiment, progeny pepper plants of a backcross in which a plantdescribed herein is the recurrent parent comprise (i) the desired traitfrom the non-recurrent parent and (ii) all of the physiological andmorphological characteristics of pepper the recurrent parent asdetermined at the 5% significance level when grown in the sameenvironmental conditions.

New varieties can also be developed from more than two parents. Thetechnique, known as modified backcrossing, uses different recurrentparents during the backcrossing. Modified backcrossing may be used toreplace the original recurrent parent with a variety having certain moredesirable characteristics or multiple parents may be used to obtaindifferent desirable characteristics from each.

With the development of molecular markers associated with particulartraits, it is possible to add additional traits into an established germline, such as represented here, with the end result being substantiallythe same base germplasm with the addition of a new trait or traits.Molecular breeding, as described in Moose and Mumm, 2008 (PlantPhysiology, 147: 969-977), for example, and elsewhere, provides amechanism for integrating single or multiple traits or QTL into an eliteline. This molecular breeding-facilitated movement of a trait or traitsinto an elite line may encompass incorporation of a particular genomicfragment associated with a particular trait of interest into the eliteline by the mechanism of identification of the integrated genomicfragment with the use of flanking or associated marker assays. In theembodiment represented here, one, two, three or four genomic loci, forexample, may be integrated into an elite line via this methodology. Whenthis elite line containing the additional loci is further crossed withanother parental elite line to produce hybrid offspring, it is possibleto then incorporate at least eight separate additional loci into thehybrid. These additional loci may confer, for example, such traits as adisease resistance or a fruit quality trait. In one embodiment, eachlocus may confer a separate trait. In another embodiment, loci may needto be homozygous and exist in each parent line to confer a trait in thehybrid. In yet another embodiment, multiple loci may be combined toconfer a single robust phenotype of a desired trait.

Many single locus traits have been identified that are not regularlyselected for in the development of a new inbred but that can be improvedby backcrossing techniques. Single locus traits may or may not betransgenic; examples of these traits include, but are not limited to,herbicide resistance, resistance to bacterial, fungal, or viral disease,insect resistance, modified fatty acid or carbohydrate metabolism, andaltered nutritional quality. These comprise genes generally inheritedthrough the nucleus.

Direct selection may be applied where the single locus acts as adominant trait. For this selection process, the progeny of the initialcross are assayed for viral resistance and/or the presence of thecorresponding gene prior to the backcrossing. Selection eliminates anyplants that do not have the desired gene and resistance trait, and onlythose plants that have the trait are used in the subsequent backcross.This process is then repeated for all additional backcross generations.

Selection of pepper plants for breeding is not necessarily dependent onthe phenotype of a plant and instead can be based on geneticinvestigations. For example, one can utilize a suitable genetic markerwhich is closely genetically linked to a trait of interest. One of thesemarkers can be used to identify the presence or absence of a trait inthe offspring of a particular cross, and can be used in selection ofprogeny for continued breeding. This technique is commonly referred toas marker assisted selection. Any other type of genetic marker or otherassay which is able to identify the relative presence or absence of atrait of interest in a plant can also be useful for breeding purposes.Procedures for marker assisted selection are well known in the art. Suchmethods will be of particular utility in the case of recessive traitsand variable phenotypes, or where conventional assays may be moreexpensive, time consuming or otherwise disadvantageous. Types of geneticmarkers which could be used in accordance with the invention include,but are not necessarily limited to, Simple Sequence Length Polymorphisms(SSLPs) (Williams et al., Nucleic Acids Res., 1 8:6531-6535, 1990),Randomly Amplified Polymorphic DNAs (RAPDs), DNA AmplificationFingerprinting (DAF), Sequence Characterized Amplified Regions (SCARs),Arbitrary Primed Polymerase Chain Reaction (AP-PCR), Amplified FragmentLength Polymorphisms (AFLPs) (EP 534 858, specifically incorporatedherein by reference in its entirety), and Single NucleotidePolymorphisms (SNPs) (Wang et al., Science, 280:1077-1082, 1998).

F. PLANTS DERIVED BY GENETIC ENGINEERING

Many useful traits that can be introduced by backcrossing, as well asdirectly into a plant, are those which are introduced by genetictransformation techniques. Genetic transformation may therefore be usedto insert a selected transgene into a plant of the invention or may,alternatively, be used for the preparation of transgenes which can beintroduced by backcrossing. Methods for the transformation of plantsthat are well known to those of skill in the art and applicable to manycrop species include, but are not limited to, electroporation,microprojectile bombardment, Agrobacterium-mediated transformation anddirect DNA uptake by protoplasts.

To effect transformation by electroporation, one may employ eitherfriable tissues, such as a suspension culture of cells or embryogeniccallus or alternatively one may transform immature embryos or otherorganized tissue directly. In this technique, one would partiallydegrade the cell walls of the chosen cells by exposing them topectin-degrading enzymes (pectolyases) or mechanically wound tissues ina controlled manner.

An efficient method for delivering transforming DNA segments to plantcells is microprojectile bombardment. In this method, particles arecoated with nucleic acids and delivered into cells by a propellingforce. Exemplary particles include those comprised of tungsten,platinum, and preferably, gold. For the bombardment, cells in suspensionare concentrated on filters or solid culture medium. Alternatively,immature embryos or other target cells may be arranged on solid culturemedium. The cells to be bombarded are positioned at an appropriatedistance below the macroprojectile stopping plate.

An illustrative embodiment of a method for delivering DNA into plantcells by acceleration is the Biolistics Particle Delivery System, whichcan be used to propel particles coated with DNA or cells through ascreen, such as a stainless steel or Nytex screen, onto a surfacecovered with target cells. The screen disperses the particles so thatthey are not delivered to the recipient cells in large aggregates.Microprojectile bombardment techniques are widely applicable, and may beused to transform virtually any plant species.

Agrobacterium-mediated transfer is another widely applicable system forintroducing gene loci into plant cells. An advantage of the technique isthat DNA can be introduced into whole plant tissues, thereby bypassingthe need for regeneration of an intact plant from a protoplast. ModernAgrobacterium transformation vectors are capable of replication in E.coli as well as Agrobacterium, allowing for convenient manipulations(Klee et al., Bio-Technology, 3(7):637-642, 1985). Moreover, recenttechnological advances in vectors for Agrobacterium-mediated genetransfer have improved the arrangement of genes and restriction sites inthe vectors to facilitate the construction of vectors capable ofexpressing various polypeptide coding genes. The vectors described haveconvenient multi-linker regions flanked by a promoter and apolyadenylation site for direct expression of inserted polypeptidecoding genes. Additionally, Agrobacterium containing both armed anddisarmed Ti genes can be used for transformation.

In those plant strains where Agrobacterium-mediated transformation isefficient, it is the method of choice because of the facile and definednature of the gene locus transfer. The use of Agrobacterium-mediatedplant integrating vectors to introduce DNA into plant cells is wellknown in the art (Fraley et al., Bio/Technology, 3:629-635, 1985; U.S.Pat. No. 5,563,055).

Transformation of plant protoplasts also can be achieved using methodsbased on calcium phosphate precipitation, polyethylene glycol treatment,electroporation, and combinations of these treatments (see, e.g.,Potrykus et al., Mol. Gen. Genet., 199:183-188, 1985; Omirulleh et al.,Plant Mol. Biol., 21(3):415-428, 1993; Fromm et al., Nature,312:791-793, 1986; Uchimiya et al., Mol. Gen. Genet., 204:204, 1986;Marcotte et al., Nature, 335:454, 1988). Transformation of plants andexpression of foreign genetic elements is exemplified in Choi et al.(Plant Cell Rep., 13: 344-348, 1994), and Ellul et al. (Theor. Appl.Genet., 107:462-469, 2003).

A number of promoters have utility for plant gene expression for anygene of interest including but not limited to selectable markers,scoreable markers, genes for pest tolerance, disease resistance,nutritional enhancements and any other gene of agronomic interest.Examples of constitutive promoters useful for plant gene expressioninclude, but are not limited to, the cauliflower mosaic virus (CaMV)P-35S promoter, which confers constitutive, high-level expression inmost plant tissues (see, e.g., Odel et al., Nature, 313:810, 1985),including in monocots (see, e.g., Dekeyser et al., Plant Cell, 2:591,1990; Terada and Shimamoto, Mol. Gen. Genet., 220:389, 1990); a tandemlyduplicated version of the CaMV 35S promoter, the enhanced 35S promoter(P-e35S); 1 the nopaline synthase promoter (An et al., Plant Physiol.,88:547, 1988); the octopine synthase promoter (Fromm et al., Plant Cell,1:977, 1989); and the figwort mosaic virus (P-FMV) promoter as describedin U.S. Pat. No. 5,378,619 and an enhanced version of the FMV promoter(P-eFMV) where the promoter sequence of P-FMV is duplicated in tandem;the cauliflower mosaic virus 19S promoter; a sugarcane bacilliform viruspromoter; a commelina yellow mottle virus promoter; and other plant DNAvirus promoters known to express in plant cells.

A variety of plant gene promoters that are regulated in response toenvironmental, hormonal, chemical, and/or developmental signals can alsobe used for expression of an operably linked gene in plant cells,including promoters regulated by (1) heat (Callis et al., PlantPhysiol., 88:965, 1988), (2) light (e.g., pea rbcS-3A promoter,Kuhlemeier et al., Plant Cell, 1:471, 1989; maize rbcS promoter,Schaffner and Sheen, Plant Cell, 3:997, 1991; or chlorophyll a/b-bindingprotein promoter, Simpson et al., EMBO J., 4:2723, 1985), (3) hormones,such as abscisic acid (Marcotte et al., Plant Cell, 1:969, 1989), (4)wounding (e.g., wunl, Siebertz et al., Plant Cell, 1:961, 1989); or (5)chemicals such as methyl jasmonate, salicylic acid, or Safener. It mayalso be advantageous to employ organ-specific promoters (e.g., Roshal etal., EMBO J., 6:1155, 1987; Schernthaner et al., EMBO J., 7:1249, 1988;Bustos et al., Plant Cell, 1:839, 1989).

Exemplary nucleic acids which may be introduced to plants of thisinvention include, for example, DNA sequences or genes from anotherspecies, or even genes or sequences which originate with or are presentin the same species, but are incorporated into recipient cells bygenetic engineering methods rather than classical reproduction orbreeding techniques. However, the term “exogenous” is also intended torefer to genes that are not normally present in the cell beingtransformed, or perhaps simply not present in the form, structure, etc.,as found in the transforming DNA segment or gene, or genes which arenormally present and that one desires to express in a manner thatdiffers from the natural expression pattern, e.g., to over-express.Thus, the term “exogenous” gene or DNA is intended to refer to any geneor DNA segment that is introduced into a recipient cell, regardless ofwhether a similar gene may already be present in such a cell. The typeof DNA included in the exogenous DNA can include DNA which is alreadypresent in the plant cell, DNA from another plant, DNA from a differentorganism, or a DNA generated externally, such as a DNA sequencecontaining an antisense message of a gene, or a DNA sequence encoding asynthetic or modified version of a gene.

Many hundreds if not thousands of different genes are known and couldpotentially be introduced into a pepper plant according to theinvention. Non-limiting examples of particular genes and correspondingphenotypes one may choose to introduce into a pepper plant include oneor more genes for insect tolerance, such as a Bacillus thuringiensis(B.t.) gene, pest tolerance such as genes for fungal disease control,herbicide tolerance such as genes conferring glyphosate tolerance, andgenes for quality improvements such as yield, nutritional enhancements,environmental or stress tolerances, or any desirable changes in plantphysiology, growth, development, morphology or plant product(s). Forexample, structural genes would include any gene that confers insecttolerance including but not limited to a Bacillus insect control proteingene as described in WO 99/31248, herein incorporated by reference inits entirety, U.S. Pat. No. 5,689,052, herein incorporated by referencein its entirety, U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,500,365 and 5,880,275, hereinincorporated by reference in their entirety. In another embodiment, thestructural gene can confer tolerance to the herbicide glyphosate asconferred by genes including, but not limited to Agrobacterium strainCP4 glyphosate resistant EPSPS gene (aroA:CP4) as described in U.S. Pat.No. 5,633,435, herein incorporated by reference in its entirety, orglyphosate oxidoreductase gene (GOX) as described in U.S. Pat. No.5,463,175, herein incorporated by reference in its entirety.

Alternatively, the DNA coding sequences can affect these phenotypes byencoding a non-translatable RNA molecule that causes the targetedinhibition of expression of an endogenous gene, for example viaantisense- or cosuppression-mediated mechanisms (see, for example, Birdet al., Biotech. Gen. Engin. Rev., 9:207, 1991). The RNA could also be acatalytic RNA molecule (i.e., a ribozyme) engineered to cleave a desiredendogenous mRNA product (see for example, Gibson and Shillito, Mol.Biotech., 7:125, 1997). Thus, any gene which produces a protein or mRNAwhich expresses a phenotype or morphology change of interest is usefulfor the practice of the present invention.

G. DEFINITIONS

In the description and tables herein, a number of terms are used. Inorder to provide a clear and consistent understanding of thespecification and claims, the following definitions are provided:

Allele: Any of one or more alternative forms of a gene locus, all ofwhich alleles relate to one trait or characteristic. In a diploid cellor organism, the two alleles of a given gene occupy corresponding locion a pair of homologous chromosomes.

Backcrossing: A process in which a breeder repeatedly crosses hybridprogeny, for example a first generation hybrid (F₁), back to one of theparents of the hybrid progeny. Backcrossing can be used to introduce oneor more single locus conversions from one genetic background intoanother.

Crossing: The mating of two parent plants.

Cross-pollination: Fertilization by the union of two gametes fromdifferent plants.

Diploid: A cell or organism having two sets of chromosomes.

Emasculate: The removal of plant male sex organs or the inactivation ofthe organs with a cytoplasmic or nuclear genetic factor or a chemicalagent conferring male sterility.

Enzymes: Molecules which can act as catalysts in biological reactions.

F₁ Hybrid: The first generation progeny of the cross of two nonisogenicplants.

Genotype: The genetic constitution of a cell or organism.

Haploid: A cell or organism having one set of the two sets ofchromosomes in a diploid.

Linkage: A phenomenon wherein alleles on the same chromosome tend tosegregate together more often than expected by chance if theirtransmission was independent.

Marker: A readily detectable phenotype, preferably inherited incodominant fashion (both alleles at a locus in a diploid heterozygoteare readily detectable), with no environmental variance component, i.e.,heritability of 1.

Phenotype: The detectable characteristics of a cell or organism, whichcharacteristics are the manifestation of gene expression.

Quantitative Trait Loci (QTL): Quantitative trait loci (QTL) refer togenetic loci that control to some degree numerically representabletraits that are usually continuously distributed.

Resistance: As used herein, the terms “resistance” and “tolerance” areused interchangeably to describe plants that show no symptoms to aspecified biotic pest, pathogen, abiotic influence or environmentalcondition. These terms are also used to describe plants showing somesymptoms but that are still able to produce marketable product with anacceptable yield. Some plants that are referred to as resistant ortolerant are only so in the sense that they may still produce a crop,even though the plants are stunted and the yield is reduced.

Regeneration: The development of a plant from tissue culture.

Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) color chart value: The RHS color chartis a standardized reference which allows accurate identification of anycolor. A color's designation on the chart describes its hue, brightnessand saturation. A color is precisely named by the RHS color chart byidentifying the group name, sheet number and letter, e.g., Yellow-OrangeGroup 19A or Red Group 41B.

Self-pollination: The transfer of pollen from the anther to the stigmaof the same plant.

Single Locus Converted (Conversion) Plant: Plants which are developed bya plant breeding technique called backcrossing, wherein essentially allof the morphological and physiological characteristics of a peppervariety are recovered in addition to the characteristics of the singlelocus transferred into the variety via the backcrossing technique and/orby genetic transformation.

Substantially Equivalent: A characteristic that, when compared, does notshow a statistically significant difference (e.g., p=0.05) from themean.

Tissue Culture: A composition comprising isolated cells of the same or adifferent type or a collection of such cells organized into parts of aplant.

Transgene: A genetic locus comprising a sequence which has beenintroduced into the genome of a pepper plant by transformation.

H. DEPOSIT INFORMATION

A deposit of pepper hybrid SV3255PB and inbred parent lines SBR-99-1335and SBY-99-1336, disclosed above and recited in the claims, has beenmade with the American Type Culture Collection (ATCC), 10801 UniversityBlvd., Manassas, Va. 20110-2209. The date of deposits were, Nov. 12,2013, Nov. 12, 2013, and Sep. 27, 2013. The accession numbers for thosedeposited seeds of pepper hybrid SV3255PB and inbred parent linesSBR-99-1335 and SBY-99-1336 are ATCC Accession No. PTA-120705, ATCCAccession No. PTA-120706, and ATCC Accession No. PTA-120604,respectively. Upon issuance of a patent, all restrictions upon thedeposits will be removed, and the deposits are intended to meet all ofthe requirements of 37 C.F.R. §1.801-1.809. The deposits will bemaintained in the depository for a period of 30 years, or 5 years afterthe last request, or for the effective life of the patent, whichever islonger, and will be replaced if necessary during that period.

Although the foregoing invention has been described in some detail byway of illustration and example for purposes of clarity andunderstanding, it will be obvious that certain changes and modificationsmay be practiced within the scope of the invention, as limited only bythe scope of the appended claims.

All references cited herein are hereby expressly incorporated herein byreference.

What is claimed is:
 1. A pepper plant comprising at least a first set ofthe chromosomes of pepper line SBR-99-1335 or pepper line SBY-99-1336, asample of seed of said lines having been deposited under ATCC AccessionNumber PTA-120706 and ATCC Accession Number PTA-120604, respectively. 2.A pepper seed comprising at least a first set of the chromosomes ofpepper line SBR-99-1335 or pepper line SBY-99-1336, a sample of seed ofsaid lines having been deposited under ATCC Accession Number PTA-120706and ATCC Accession Number PTA-120604, respectively.
 3. The plant ofclaim 1, which is an inbred.
 4. The plant of claim 1, which is a hybrid.5. The seed of claim 2, which is an inbred.
 6. The seed of claim 2,which is a hybrid.
 7. The plant of claim 4, wherein the hybrid plant ispepper hybrid SV3255PB, a sample of seed of said hybrid SV3255PB havingbeen deposited under ATCC Accession Number PTA-120705.
 8. The seed ofclaim 6, defined as a seed of pepper hybrid SV3255PB, a sample of seedof said hybrid SV3255PB having been deposited under ATCC AccessionNumber PTA-120705.
 9. The seed of claim 2, defined as a seed of lineSBR-99-1335 or line SBY-99-1336.
 10. A plant part of the plant ofclaim
 1. 11. The plant part of claim 10, further defined as a leaf, anovule, pollen, a fruit, or a cell.
 12. A pepper plant having all thephysiological and morphological characteristics of the pepper plant ofclaim
 7. 13. A tissue culture of regenerable cells of the plant ofclaim
 1. 14. The tissue culture according to claim 13, comprising cellsor protoplasts from a plant part selected from the group consisting ofembryos, meristems, cotyledons, pollen, leaves, anthers, roots, roottips, pistil, flower, seed and stalks.
 15. A pepper plant regeneratedfrom the tissue culture of claim
 13. 16. A method of vegetativelypropagating the pepper plant of claim 1 comprising the steps of: (a)collecting tissue capable of being propagated from the plant accordingto claim 1; (b) cultivating said tissue to obtain proliferated shoots;and (c) rooting said proliferated shoots to obtain rooted plantlets. 17.The method of claim 16, further comprising growing at least a firstpepper plant from said rooted plantlets.
 18. A method of introducing adesired trait into a pepper line comprising: (a) utilizing as arecurrent parent a plant of either pepper line SBR-99-1335 or pepperline SBY-99-1336, by crossing a plant of pepper line SBR-99-1335 orpepper line SBY-99-1336 with a second donor pepper plant that comprisesa desired trait to produce F1 progeny, a sample of seed of said lineshaving been deposited under ATCC Accession Number PTA-120706, and ATCCAccession Number PTA-120604, respectively; (b) selecting an F1 progenythat comprises the desired trait; (c) backcrossing the selected F1progeny with a plant of the same pepper line used as the recurrentparent in step (a), to produce backcross progeny; (d) selectingbackcross progeny comprising the desired trait and the physiological andmorphological characteristics of the recurrent parent pepper line usedin step (a); and (e) repeating steps (c) and (d) three or more times toproduce selected fourth or higher backcross progeny that comprise thedesired trait, and otherwise comprise essentially all of themorphological and physiological characteristics of the recurrent parentpepper line used in step (a).
 19. A pepper plant produced by the methodof claim
 18. 20. A method of producing a pepper plant comprising anadded trait, the method comprising introducing a transgene conferringthe trait into a plant of pepper hybrid SV3255PB, pepper lineSBR-99-1335 or pepper line SBY-99-1336, a sample of seed of said hybridand lines having been deposited under ATCC Accession Number PTA-120705,ATCC Accession Number PTA-120706, and ATCC Accession Number PTA-120604,respectively.
 21. A pepper plant produced by the method of claim
 20. 22.The plant of claim 1, further comprising a transgene.
 23. The plant ofclaim 22, wherein the transgene confers a trait selected from the groupconsisting of male sterility, herbicide tolerance, insect resistance,pest resistance, disease resistance, modified fatty acid metabolism,environmental stress tolerance, modified carbohydrate metabolism andmodified protein metabolism.
 24. The plant of claim 1, furthercomprising a single locus conversion.
 25. The plant of claim 24, whereinthe single locus conversion confers a trait selected from the groupconsisting of male sterility, herbicide tolerance, insect resistance,pest resistance, disease resistance, modified fatty acid metabolism,environmental stress tolerance, modified carbohydrate metabolism andmodified protein metabolism.
 26. A method for producing a seed of apepper plant derived from at least one of pepper hybrid SV3255PB, pepperline SBR-99-1335 or pepper line SBY-99-1336 comprising the steps of: (a)crossing a pepper plant of hybrid SV3255PB, line SBR-99-1335 or lineSBY-99-1336 with itself or a second pepper plant; a sample of seed ofsaid hybrid and lines having been deposited under ATCC Accession NumberPTA-120705, ATCC Accession Number PTA-120706, and ATCC Accession NumberPTA-120604, respectively; and (b) allowing seed of a hybrid SV3255PB,line SBR-99-1335 or line SBY-99-1336-derived pepper plant to form. 27.The method of claim 26, further comprising the steps of: (c) selfing aplant grown from said hybrid SV3255PB, line SBR-99-1335 or lineSBY-99-1336-derived pepper seed to yield additional hybrid SV3255PB,line SBR-99-1335 or line SBY-99-1336-derived pepper seed; (d) growingsaid additional hybrid SV3255PB, line SBR-99-1335 or lineSBY-99-1336-derived pepper seed of step (c) to yield additional hybridSV3255PB, line SBR-99-1335 or line SBY-99-1336-derived pepper plants;and (e) repeating the crossing and growing steps of (c) and (d) togenerate at least a first further hybrid SV3255PB, line SBR-99-1335 orline SBY-99-1336-derived pepper plant.
 28. The method of claim 26,wherein the second pepper plant is of an inbred pepper line.
 29. Themethod of claim 26, comprising crossing line SBR-99-1335 with lineSBY-99-1336, a sample of seed of said lines having been deposited underATCC Accession Number PTA-120706, and ATCC Accession Number PTA-120604,respectively.
 30. The method of claim 27, further comprising: (f)crossing the further hybrid SV3255PB, line SBR-99-1335 or lineSBY-99-1336-derived pepper plant with a second pepper plant to produceseed of a hybrid progeny plant.
 31. A plant part of the plant of claim7.
 32. The plant part of claim 31, further defined as a leaf, a flower,a fruit, an ovule, pollen, or a cell.
 33. A method of producing a pepperseed comprising crossing the plant of claim 1 with itself or a secondpepper plant and allowing seed to form.
 34. A method of producing apepper fruit comprising: (a) obtaining the plant according to claim 1,wherein the plant has been cultivated to maturity; and (b) collecting apepper from the plant.